Major business supplier taking the lead on ethical sourcingOne of Australia's largest office and business products supplier Corporate
Express continues to take the lead on corporate social responsibility through
ethical sourcing.

Grant Harrod, CEO of Corporate Express, said one of the company's key goals
is to offer businesses a risk free partnership by being socially responsible.

"As an important link in the chain, we see ourselves in a unique position to
influence the behaviour of manufacturers and create awareness for buyers by
taking a leadership position," Harrod said.

"We are on a journey to view all our practices holistically and recognise that
many of our social, ethical and environmental impacts reside as much in our
supply chain as in our own activities.

"By taking responsibility for these impacts, we remain a valued business partner
to our suppliers and customers who are seeking to add to their corporate
citizenship goals.

"As a supplier, we are looking closely at 'changing behaviour' for Australian
businesses by getting them to consider a range of practices including recycling
products, chain of custody, fair trading, supply chain integrity and the EMAS
standard.

The challenge for customers is obtaining accurate information and understanding
the effect their buying choices will have on the environment," he said.

Nick Severino, Executive General Manager Merchandising and Procurement, is
charged with overseeing the company's Ethical Sourcing Policy for a sustainable
supply chain.

According to Severino, the Ethical Sourcing Policy aims to uphold the integrity
of the supply chain by sourcing from suppliers that produce products within a
framework of the highest ethical and environmental credentials.

"Our Ethical Sourcing Policy accredits suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to
take account of their own responsibilities with an overall approach and specific
policies that are complementary to our own.

"By taking a leadership position we can influence the supply chain and the
behaviour that fits with the values that we are trying to achieve," Mr Severino
said.
"The Ethical Sourcing Policy covers employment practices, workplace health and
safety, environment and management controls.

"With direct imports we take responsibility to ensure compliance and will seek
accreditation for the factories we use, including on-site audits to validate
compliance.

"One of our key principles is to encourage manufacturers to make cost-effective
environmentally and socially responsible products.

In partnership with Paperlinx Office, Corporate Express gives customers the
opportunity to buy office paper made from fibre sourced from plantations and
forestry operations which are managed in a sustainable way.

"Our sales growth in environmental products has demonstrated that customers are
prepared to support these products and manufacturers that meet environmental
responsibility standards.

"Our fastest growing copy paper last year was Australian-Made recycled paper.
This paper helps to reduce landfill by providing a closed loop solution from
waste to product which genuinely improves our local environment" he said.

The Policy applies to all sourcing activities within Australia and New Zealand,
whether sourced from local or international vendors.

Corporate Express is Australia's leading supplier of office products and
business supplies and is now in its 11th year in Australia and has 50 branches
around Australia and New Zealand. For more information about Corporate Express
please call 13 26 44 or visit the website at
www.ce.com.au

Released for Corporate Express by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations (www.drpr.com.au)
For further information please call Fiona Pennington or Nicola Rutzou on (02)
9413 4244.